Erwin Printup

I thought this was a really amazing book for a couple of reasons. This book is based on the Thanksgiving Address of the Iroquois people, the words in this book reflect the Native American tradition of greeting the world each morning by giving thanks to all the living things. The first thing that I really liked about this book was the overall message. It's not about what most people think about when they think about the holiday known as Thanksgiving and just eating a lot of food. It's about show more the original Thanksgiving, created by the Iroquois people and actually being thankful for the world and all that it gives us. It's about respecting nature and giving thanks to all of the good things Mother Nature gives to us. I love how the illustrations of this book depict the Native American people outside in nature. It gives readers a better mental picture of what the text is saying. Finally, I liked the organized and low of the writing in this book. It was very easy to follow and didn't add extra or unneeded details. show less

I wanted to love this more than I did but I did really like it and appreciate it.

It’s meaningful that this book was created by Native Americans, words by Chief Jake Swamp (Tekaronianeken/Mohawk?) and illustrated by Erwin Printup, Jr. (Cayuga/Tuscarora) educated in fine arts from the Institute of American Indian Art in Santa Fe, NM. Both men live in New York state.

U.S. Thanksgiving is probably my least favorite holiday (family centered with no close family; 46 million turkeys killed every show more year for just this holiday) but I can 100% get behind this kind of thanksgiving: a daily address to thank Mother Earth for all that she provides. Given climate change it was also poignant for me, but overall I found it lovely. I like how children are taught to express these thanks and how it’s said at ceremonial and government gatherings to this day. The words are from the Iroquois or Six Nations People.

A big plus is that the address is printed in the Mohawk language at the end of the book. I’d like to hear the audio of it because I don’t know how it sounds.

The illustrations grew on me. From the start I loved their vibrancy and bright colors but I wasn’t sure about their style. As I turned the pages I enjoyed them more and more and by the end of this short picture book I really liked them.

Thanked are: everything, deep blue waters, green grasses, good foods, fruits and berries, good medicine herbs, all the animals in the world, all the trees, all the birds, the gentle Four Winds, Grandfather Thunder Beings, Elder Brother Sun, Grandmother Moon, twinkling stars, Spirit Protectors of past and present, and the Great Spirit.

3-1/2 stars show less

Giving Thanks is written by Chief Jake Swamp and illustrated by Erwin Printup. It is a Native American morning message that gives thanks to all things in nature. I really enjoyed this story because I am using it for a Thanksgiving lesson, and it is not your typical type of Thanksgiving book. It reminds me that there are many other things to be thankful for that we often take for granted; a great message for children.

I did very much enjoy this. It's not so much a teaching tool, but more of a poem, or, yes, a hymn. I appreciate the author's notes, including a page of what the words look like in Mohawk.